Somerset Greyhound station leaves the driving to you

Kim Plaskett, spokesperson for the company's corporate offices in Dallas, said the Somerset service ended Feb. 3.

Greyhound has 2,200 locations in the United States, she said. Of those, about 80 are company owned and operated. The rest are operated by agents and are located at convenience stores, motels or other similar businesses.

"Somerset had an agent who had a monthly contract," Plaskett said. "Sometimes an agent chooses not to renew the contract and that's what happened here. We have no plans to re-open a station in Somerset."

The next nearest Greyhound station is in Johnstown at R&R Donuts, 126 Clinton St. It is open every day except Sunday and holidays. There are others in Ebensburg, Breezewood and New Stanton. People may also buy tickets through the Greyhound Web site or by calling toll-free 1-800-231-2222.

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"If another person expressed an interest in being an agent in Somerset, we would have to see if it would be feasible financially," she said. "Will it cost more to keep the stop than the revenue brings in? Is it better to continue referring people to the next closest station? It's a question of the number of buses, the mileage and the number of people picked up. Thirty miles further (to Johnstown) is not far when you look at the grand scheme of things; these days, more people have access to cars or taxis."

Marilyn Albright, Salvation Army service center director, said this will be a hardship for people who can't afford to pay. It costs $60 to take a taxi from Somerset to Johnstown.

Some people the Salvation Army gives bus tickets to are transients. Others have been riding with someone else who couldn't take them further than Somerset or who had vehicles break down.

"People come here for help because they don't have the money," she said. "If I'm here, and they really need to go somewhere, I'll drive them. But we'll really have to cut back on the bus tickets we give people. I won't be able to go that often."

The Salvation Army board discussed possibilities, such as approaching the Somerset Area Ministries about their van or talking to the county transportation system about possibly adding more trips. The county van goes to Johnstown once a week if enough riders are available.

Jeff Masterson, executive director of Tableland Services Inc., the county's community action agency which administers the transportation system, said it will have to look if the demand is there to add more trips to Johnstown.

"It still raises the issue that people who ride the bus usually can't afford a car," he said. "It's sad for them. It targets a segment of the population that has no voice in the process."